Apparatus for and method of cracking hydrocarbons



ec. 25, 1923. EAZSAHE F. E. WELLMAN APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF CRACKINGHYDROCARBONS Filed April 21, 1920 3 Sheecs$heet l Dem 25, 1923.-

F. E. WELLMAN APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF CRACKING HYDROCARBONS FiledApril 21. 1920 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 25, 1923.

F. E. WELLMAN APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF CRACKING HYDROCARBONS FiledApril 21. 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet attolneq Patente Dec. 25, 1923.

NET? S FRANK E. WELLMAN, KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, ASSIGNOR TO THE KANSASCITY GASOLINE COMPANY, OF KANSAS CITY, KANSAS, A CORPORATION OF KANSAS.

AlPARATUS FOR'AND METHOD or CRACKING HYDROCARBONS.

Application filed April 21, 1920. Serial No. 375,513.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, FRANK E. VELLMAN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of\Vyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for and Methods of Cracking Hydrocarbons, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawing. 4

My invention relates to the reduction of hydrocarbons from those havinga high boiling point to those having lower boiling points by what isknown as cracking, under heat and pressure. I

My invention has for its object to facilitate. the operation. heretoforedescribed and claimed in my prior copending-application Serial Number806,321, filed June 24, 1919, patented December 14, 192 0, No.1,362,160. Broadly stated, I attain my present object, with ancillaryobjects which will sufiiciently appear from the detailed description, byproviding cracking tubes in a furnace, and

causing a rapid circulation of oil (hydro carbons) through said crackingtubes, then passing the same through a long container sufficiently largeto slacken the speed of the flowing liquid enough to allow the carbon tosettle out, after which the oil is picked up again and put through thesame cycle,-

fresh oil being charged in from time to time at an intermediate pointbetween the settling tubes and the cracking tubes on that side of thesettling tubes through which the current of oil is toward the crackingtubes.

My invention is illustrated as to one embodiment in the accompanyingdrawings in which a Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectionalview of a furnaceshowingcracking tubes therein in full lines, settling tubes connectedtherewith partly in full and partly in dotted lines, together with theconnected arts;

Fig. 2 is a front view 0 the furnace and external parts with a wall ofthe furnace separating the cracking tubes from the settling tubes, shownin dotted lines; and

'Fig. 3 is a diagram or isometric projection, showing the system oftubes complete, removed entirely from the furnace.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the charging line, 2 is thehousing of a suitable pump, which may be of any suitable type,

as for example a helical turbine or centrifugal pump. The direction inwhich the Oil passes through the pump is indicated by the arrows in allthe figures. 3 is the discharge line from the pump leading to a manifold4 from which rise distributing pipes 5 which are each equipped withcleanout flanges. These distributing pipes are of such size that theirtotal cross-sectional area isless than the capacity of the pump, whenfilled, or in other words the pump 2 has an over-capacity. relatively tothe distributing pipes 5. This insures an even distribution to all ofsaid pipes, since no one of them can rob the others. 7 (S indicates theouter ends of the upper sections of the cracking tubes. The oil isdischarged down throu h the distributing pipes 5 into the base of thefrac-.

tionators, and flows thence down through the sections 7 of the crackingtubes throu h the whole length of the furnace, at the ar end of whichthese tubes are vertically connected through welded standpipes with thelower cracking sections 8. Passing from the I upper section 7 into theselower sections 8, the oil again flows forwardly through the length ofthe furnace to the header or manifold 9 from which it falls into thepipe 10 through the drop connection 11. The pipe 10 connects into-thefront end of a large settling tube 12, which extends to the far end ofthe furnace, and through a welded crossconnection 12 to the rear end oftube 13, similar to 12, through which the oil again flows forward to thefront end of the fur nace, then through the drop tube 14 to the ump 2.

The distributing pipes connect in to the base of the risers 16 of thefractionator.

distribution might be made separately to the pipes 7. This fractionatoris composed of a grid of relatively small pipes at its upper end, unitedby a header common to all of them, from which is taken-off a dome pipecarrying the vapor line 17 commonly called the draw-off line, and twopressure gauge lines 18. I also provide a steam line marked 19 and ablow-out pipe marked 20, with valves 19, for the'steam line.

The operation of this apparatus will be sufliciently understood from thefore oing description with very few additiona explanations. My presentapparatus has the settling tubes 12 and 13 of eight inchdiametelywhilethe cracking tubes 7 and 8 This is for-convenience only asof course .with detachable heads for cleaning out.

These heads are shown secured by bolts each extended for a considerabledistance along the pipe, and welded thereto throughout its length; Ofcourse the number of fractionator tubes can be increased or diminishedas necessity dictates, but in the completed machine I'have as manyrisers as there are ,horlzontal units 1n the furnace.

The difference in diameter and therebyreduced capacity of the crackingtubes and the settling pipes allows for a much slower movement ofthecracked liquid in the settling pipes gto allow precipitation of carbonwhich is removed at convenient intervals through the blow-out line 20,and if desired the whole system of pipes scoured at the same timeby'steam from the steam line 19, all of which is fully described andclaimed in my previous application hereinbefore referred to.

Itmay be added that We charge this apparatus with one half the cubicalcontents, This is brought up to the 300 lb. pressure, 50% is drawn ofi'as vapors and the remainder is quickly blown out. a The operationfis'then repeated. This epitomizes the operation only, and is not to beconstrued as a limitation. within the scope of my invention, asdescribed, the intervals of time between the blowing off beinglengthened as circumstances require.

What I claim is 1. Apparatus of the class described comprising crackingtubes and settling tubes connected in a continuous coil or series, saidcracking tubes being ex osed to cracking temperature, and being 0smaller diameter,

and capacity than the settling tubes, means for producing a circulationof hydrocarbons ficient Volume to Continuous operation is also to becracked rapidly through the cracking tubes, slowly from them through thelarger settling tubesand then again through the cracking tubes, saidtubes being arrangedto form a constant downward channel for thehydrocarbon from the entrance to the cracking tubes to the dischargepoint of the settling tubes, and means for blowing out said settlingtubes between operations.

2. Apparatus of the class described com prising cracking tubes andsettling tubes,

connected in a continuous coil or series, said cracking ,tubes beingexposed to cracking temperature, and being of smaller diameter andcapacity than the settling tubes, means for producing a circulation ofhydrocarbons to be cracked rapidly through the cracking tubes, slowly.from them through the larger settling tubes, to allow the carbon tosettle out, and then again rapidly through the cracking tubes, the saidcracking. tubes being in parallel with each other, and distributing"tubes equal in number and individually connected tothe cracking tubes,said circulating means belng in the form of a feed pump having acapacity greater than the aggregate capacity of all the distributingpipes, and means for feeding oil to said pump in sufmaintain equaldistribu' tion. I

3. The method of cracking hydrocarbons which consists in maintainingrapid circulation of the same through a constricted area heated tocracking temperature, then caus ing the same to expand into a lessconstricted area for settling purposes, then picking up the materialfrom which the carbon has settled out, and returning it to the con 1stricted,cracking area, taking off cracked products from the constrictedarea and finally when the required percentage of conversion is attainedblowing out the contents of the settling area.

4. The method of cracking hydrocarbons as claimed in claim 3 with theadditional step of adding fresh oil in advance of the constricted area,thus maintaining the volume of circulation against losses.

In testlmony whereof I afiix my signature.

' FRANK E. WELLMAN.

